Definition
A personality trait that reflects a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without regard to the negative consequences of these reactions to the individual or to others (Moeller et al. 2001).
Introduction
Impulsivity, loosely defined as action without sufficient forethought, is a personality trait that can be both beneficial and disadvantageous in everyday life. The ability to act rapidly, on impulse, can allow us to seize a valuable opportunity when the moment arises, but also make a disastrous decision we then live to regret. High levels of impulsivity are not only socially unacceptable but are also a key symptom in a range of psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and personality disorders (APA 2013). Increased impulsivity is also thought to represent an...
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Winstanley, C. (2017). Impulsivity. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1082-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1082-1
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